344 The Grayling and the Smelt 
and bright rose-colored spots; while the body is mostly purplish 
gray, often with spots of black. Most of the species rarely 
exceed a foot in length, but northward they grow larger. Gray- 
ling weighing five pounds have been taken in England; and 
according to Dr. Day they are said in Lapland to reach a weight 
of eight or nine pounds. The grayling in all countries frequent 
clear, cold brooks, and rarely, if ever, enter the sea, or even the 
larger lakes. They congregate in small shoals in the streams, 
and prefer those which have a succession of pools and shal- 
lows, with a sandy or gravelly rather than rocky bottom. The 
grayling spawns on the shallows in April or May (in England). 
It is non-migratory in its habits, depositing its ova in the 
neighborhood of its usual haunts. The ova are far more delicate 
and easily killed than those of the trout or charr. The grayling 
and the trout often inhabit the same waters, but not alto- 
gether in harmony. It is said that the grayling devours the 
eggs of the trout. It is certain that the trout feed on the 
young grayling. As a food-fish, the grayling of course ranks 
high; and it is beloved by the sportsman. They are considered 
gamy fishes, although less strong than the brook-trout, and 
perhaps less wary. The five or six known species of grayling 
are very closely related, and are doubtless comparatively recent 
ofishoots from a common stock, which has now spread itself 
widely through the northern regions. 
The common grayling of Europe (Zhymallus thymallus) 
is found throughout northern Europe, and as far south as the 
mountains of Hungary and northern Italy. The name Thymallus 
was given by the ancients, because the fish, when fresh, was 
said to have the odor of water-thyme. Grayling belonging to 
this or other species are found in the waters of Russia and Siberia. 
The American grayling (Thymallus signifer) is widely dis- 
tributed in British America and Alaska. In the Yukon it is 
very abundant, rising readily to the fly. In several streams 
in northern Michigan, Au Sable River, and Jordan River in 
the southern peninsula, and Otter Creek near Keweenaw in 
the northern peninsula, occurs a dwarfish variety or species with 
shorter and lower dorsal fins, known to anglers as the Michigan 
grayling (Thymallus tricolor). This form has a longer head, 
rather smaller scales, and the dorsal fin rather lower than in 
